1. While the debate within the Beltway continues apace, Canadian commander says the implementation of McChrystal's plan in Kandahar nets increasing returns from Afghans as they build trust.

2. Release from from a non-Persian Iranian Arab group from western Iran says the Iranian IRGC has thousands of newly-trained agents that it has trained deployed within Arab Gulf states to carry out operations against them without Iranian fingerprints.

3. While calls for talks continue, as with Iran, North Korea says dismantling its nuclear weapons "unthinkable."

4. Showing signs of a growing rift, the Pakistani military has said it has serious issues with the Kerry-Lugar US aid bill because of its requirements and clauses regarding Pakistan engaging the Taliban and al-Qaeda on the battlefield. Pakistan's National Assembly has unanimously undertaken a review of the bill.

February 2, 2010[Listen Here]
What on Earth can Usama bin Laden, the mystical calculus of climate change and US Homeland Security have in common? Does bin Laden really agree with the President of the United States on matters weather? How is it that the...